saleT

jo jī meñ aa.e

is par tahrīr karo

jaisī chāhe lakīreñ khīñch do

naqsh-o-nigār banāo

aur

jab chāho āsānī se miTā do

kahīñ koī nishān baaqī nahīñ

baabā kī dī huī saleT

merī aaḌī tirchhī lakīroñ kā canvās

kitnā sahal huā kartā thā

is par likhe hue ko miTā denā

ab likhtī to merī biTiyā bhī hai

lekin ab vo saleT kahāñ

ab hai pencil kī gahrī nok jo gaḌ jaatī hai

kāġhaz ke siine meñ nashtar kī tarah

TuuTe phūTe hurūf

aaḌī tirchhī lakīreñ aur ġhair vāzeh tasāvīr aaj

bhī vahī to haiñ

magar

un ko miTāne kī koshish meñ kāġhaz phaT jaatā hai

yā phir

us par tahrīr-shuda alfāz ke gahre nishān jo

miTāne ke bāvajūd bhī baaqī rah jaate haiñ kāġhaz

ke siine par

vaqt badal rahā hai

pahle dil saleT kī mānind huā karte the

narm saaf aur shaffāf

aaj dil kāġhaz kī mānind halke ho ga.e haiñ

un par likhā miTtā to hai par baaqī rah jaate haiñ chand

nishān jo kabhī nahīñ miTte

kabhī bhī nahīñ

jo ji mein aae

is par tahrir karo

jaisi chahe lakiren khinch do

naqsh-o-nigar banao

aur

jab chaho aasani se miTa do

kahin koi nishan baqi nahin

baba ki di hui saleT

meri aaDi tirchhi lakiron ka canwas

kitna sahal hua karta tha

is par likhe hue ko miTa dena

ab likhti to meri biTiya bhi hai

lekin ab wo saleT kahan

ab hai pencil ki gahri nok jo gaD jati hai

kaghaz ke sine mein nashtar ki tarah

TuTe phuTe huruf

aaDi tirchhi lakiren aur ghair wazeh tasawir aaj

bhi wahi to hain

magar

un ko miTane ki koshish mein kaghaz phaT jata hai

ya phir

us par tahrir-shuda alfaz ke gahre nishan jo

miTane ke bawajud bhi baqi rah jate hain kaghaz

ke sine par

waqt badal raha hai

pahle dil saleT ki manind hua karte the

narm saf aur shaffaf

aaj dil kaghaz ki manind halke ho gae hain

un par likha miTta to hai par baqi rah jate hain chand

nishan jo kabhi nahin miTte

kabhi bhi nahin